Samuel at Gilgal

This year I will be sharing brief excerpts from the articles, sermons, and books I am currently reading. My posts will not follow a regular schedule but will be published as I find well-written thoughts that should be of interest to maturing Christian readers. Whenever possible, I encourage you to go to the source and read the complete work of the author.

Recommended Reading

“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.” (Matthew 7:15 ESV)

There is a doctrine that was created in America tailor-made for America. It is the doctrine of the carnal Christian that a person can believe in Jesus Christ and live in carnality all the days of their life and be worldly and never grow and yet they are a Christian. That is a lie straight out of the pit of hell. It has nothing to do with history and nothing to do with the gospel in other countries. But it is convenient for America because it is a great way to explain how we can have all these churches filled with such carnal people and still call them Christian.

Now Jesus says here in verse 15:

“Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves.”

An old man once told me, “Son, your best friend is the one who tells you the most truth and tells you as directly and clearly as possible.”

What advantage do I have here today by making you angry? What advantage do I have here today speaking hard words? Men who seek money and fame and well-being and security do not speak hard words to other men. No, they tell them about their best life now and how they can have all the self-esteem and prosperity and everything their carnal heart wants in this life.

They flatter men because they do not love men. They care about themselves. They dress up like sheep, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. All they want to do is feed off people and the best way to feed off people the Bible tells us is to tickle their ears. (“We have forgotten that the Way is Narrow”)

Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it. (George Santayana) Ignore history at your own peril. Banning flags and tearing down statues will not hide sin; make us more righteous; or prevent hate. All this is simply the outside of the cup. Americans must change within. This is the true change that […]